I think my dog is going through a crisis. She tried to commit suicide not once but twice last weekend.

Last week we were lucky enough to be invited up north to cottage country in Muskoka. It’s the first time we’ve gone to Muskoka even though we’ve lived in Ontario for almost twenty years.

Muskoka is a popular vacation spot for many Hollywood A listers hoping to escape the rat race. Cindy Crawford was updating her Instagram recently from Muskoka on her annual summer trip. I think I saw her waving to me as I kayaked past.

Zoë (our spoiled pug) has never lived seaside, lakeside nor walked on a beach so we decided to broaden her horizons and take her with us. She isn’t accustomed to long car trips and was quite anxious on the three hour trip. Normally it’s a two hour road trip but since everyone and their dog (ha ha! literally!) head to the cottage on the weekend the traffic is insane.

The cottage and our hosts were wonderful. We received the full “cottage life” experience including; dining al fresco, kayaking and canoeing, a big bonfire with s’mores, a boldly painted sunset and a night sky bursting with so many glittering rhinestone stars they made me dizzy. It was straight off a postcard!

View from the hammock

My Dog Tried To Commit Suicide

It was fabulous right up until my dog tried to commit suicide.

I’m sure some of the other guests at the cottage thought I was being a helicopter Mom as I was too nervous to let Zoë go off leash. It’s been my experience with past pugs they sometimes wander off and I didn’t want to risk Zoë disappearing into the Muskoka forest to live out the rest of her days with beavers.

By day two I was starting to feel over protective of the pug and decided to allow her off leash while keeping an eye on her. She was happy to be free and was excitedly running around sniffing everything like it was Christmas morning, so many new smells! So little time.

Splish Splash Pug

Three of us were standing near the end of the dock chatting when we heard a large splash. We turned around to see the pug had jumped off the end of the dock and was paddling as fast as her little legs would take her, desperately trying to keep her head above water. The sheer terror in her eyes and the panic on her face said it all. She needed help.

Pugs are notoriously bad swimmers as it is difficult for them to keep their flat noses above the waterline. With no time to waste Robert plunged fully clothed into the water to rescue her. It was all quite dramatic! Both the husband and the pug looked like drowned rats afterwards.

What Happened?

We still don’t know if she jumped, slipped or simply couldn’t see properly and walked off the end of the dock into the deep lake below. Needless to say it scared me half to death and I feel like I aged five years in five minutes.

She doesn’t look like someone that just barely escaped drowning.You can see she is still a bit wet here and I’m tightly gripping her leash. Once emergency was more than enough for me. Robert’s feeling better after having changed out of his wet clothes.

We’re all still smiling so there’s that.

Suicide Attempt #2

I thought Zoë’s troubles were over for the day after that bizarre event. We made our way back home and on our walk that evening, totally out of character, Zoë wiggled out of her collar and leash and raced over to confront a well known psycho Dalmatian that lives in our neighbourhood. This dog is more vicious than Cujo. It was total mayhem trying to grab Zoë back. The Dalmatian was ferociously baring all of its teeth and snarling like a possessed demon while lunging at the little pug barely out of reach. I’m sure it looked like something from an episode of Mr. Bean, one small dog running back and forth barely escaping the rabid dog’s jaw. Zoë wasn’t even barking, she was just taunting the other dog. I was relieved the woman with the Dalmatian was able to hold onto her dog.

We eventually captured Zoë and after my panic finally died down I reflected on her strange behavior. I decided that she must have a death wish. She is the same age as I am in dog years, fifty-three and is now considered senior for a dog. I had to ask her… are you having difficulty coping with aging?

Preserve Your Vintage Treasures – Avoid Washing Them When Possible

If you are a vintage lover like myself you know that every time you wash one of your favorite pieces it wears out the garment. Over washing can create unwanted holes, warn out seams and pilling. I follow the steps below to avoid washing my vintage treasures too often.

Tips To Avoid Washing Your Clothes

1. Deal With Stains ASAP

After you’ve worn an item you should check for stains. Stains should be spot cleaned as soon as possible. The faster you address a stain the more chances you have of removing it.

Heat can set some stains so it is best to use cool water to remove the stain when possible.

If you are spot treating a stain on silk or chiffon be prepared to follow up with a hand held dryer to quickly dry the area and avoid water marks.

Real Simple has a brilliant info graphic for all types of stain removal here.

2. Brush It

Items can be brushed with a clothes brush to remove lint, hair or surface dirt.

3. Spritz

Most clothing can be spritzed with vodka. This helps remove trapped smells and keeps the piece fresher longer.

Do not spritz fur, leather or suede.

I keep a large bottle of cheap vodka in my basement for this exact purpose.

4. Air Out

In between washes it is a good idea to air your clothes. Just hang them up somewhere with good ventilation (outside is ideal if you can) for a day before you put them back in your closet.

4. Steam

If you want to freshen your item and remove wrinkles at the same time try steaming in between wears. It is fast and works well especially for pleated skirts, sweaters, jackets or suiting.

I sometimes use the vodka spritz, then the steamer and finally allow the item to air a bit.

If you don’t have a steamer you can simply hang your item in the bathroom while taking a shower. Be sure to air dry it well so it isn’t damp when you place it back in your closet. Damp clothes attract bugs and grow mold.

5. Dryer & Febreeze

I sometimes use this method if suiting or a jacket has a strong odor. Give it a quick spritz of Febreeze inside and out and then pop it in the dryer. Be sure to remove it from the dryer and hang it promptly to avoid wrinkles. If the Febreeze smell is overwhelming then spritz again with vodka and air dry.

6. Lounge Clothes

I’m a big fan of changing into relaxed clothing once I’m home which is often jeans and tees, something that isn’t bothered by the copious amounts of pug hair Zoë sheds daily.

If I’m working in the kitchen I use an apron to protect my clothing.

How often do you wash your clothes?

Do you have any tips you’d like to share for keeping clothing fresh between wears without washing?